Air-conditioner.



M. DLCKERSON.

AIR CONDITIONER. I APPLACATION FILED JUNE 2!. 1911.

Patented July 11, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

OO OOOO 0000 00- WITNESSES:

M. DICKERSON.

AIR CONDITIONER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 2|. I9II 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ATTORNEY.

Patented J uly 11, 1916.

MALCOLM DICKERSON, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T0 E. MARSHALL KINSEY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

AIR-CONDITIONER.

anse.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July ll, lflllfl.

Application filed June 21, 1911. Serial No. 634,427.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that T, MALooLM DIoKERsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain Tmprovements in Air-Conditioners, of which the following is a specification.

The objectsof this invention are to provide an improved device for bringing air into intimate contact with a liquid so that such air may be washed, humidified, purified, sterilized, disinfected, cooled or otherwise treated; to secure a construction in which the rotating parts are mounted direct upon a motor shaft to operate upon a vertical axis; to obtain an intimate mixture of the air and liquid by bringing them into contact with the liquid thoroughly atom ized; to utilize centrifugal force to separate the air from the fluid in discharging; to prevent the body of water in the device from assuming rhythmical gyrations; to change the direction of the air as it leaves the device, and thus eliminate from it any particles of unvaporized fluid; to secure a simple and efficient construction, which will operate noiselessly and will not be liable to get out of order, and to obtain other advantages and re sults as may be brought out in the following description. 7

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals of reference indicate the same parts throughout the several figures, Figure 1 is a central vertical section, with the motor and one-half of the pump left entire; Fig. 2 is a plan of the pump and atomizing fan, partly in section on line 4-4,-

Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a central vertical section of the pump and atomizer; Fig. 4 is a bottom view of the pump and atomizer; Fig. 5 is a plan of a small peripheral portion of the fan, showing the detail construction of a blade; Fig. 6 is a view of the same looking edgewise at the blade, and Fig. 7 is another view looking sidewise at the blade.

In said drawings, 1 indicates a container adaptedto hold water and be set upon a table or other suitable support. Within said container is an annular support 2 resting at its lower edges upon the bottom of the container and having at its upper edges an inwardly projectingflange 3 from which an annular series of tubular posts l project upverging conical portion 9, and lastly an end cylindrical portion 10 which telescopically enters an upwardly extending. screen 11. The lower cylindrical portion 8 of the screen base telescopically receives an upwardly extending cylindrical casing 12, which lies parallel to the screen 11 and at a little distance therefrom. This casing 12 has projecting outwardly from itself near its bottom a downwardly curving bafiie 13 which overlies the top of the container 1 a little above the same.

At the top of the annular screen 11 is an outside rim 14: which has-a flange 15 projecting inwardly over the top of the screen and forms a seat fora similar flange 16 upon an annular overhang 17 which extends first upward from the topof the screen 11 as at 18 and then curves outwardly downward as at 19 past the top of the casing 12 at some little distance above the same. The recess formed by the upwardly extending portion 18 of the overhang 17 rovides a seat for a cover 20 said cover restlng at its edges upon the flanges 15, 16.

Within the annular screen 11 is an electric motor 21 arranged with its shaft vertical and in substantially the central vertical line of the apparatus. This motor 21 is supported by feet 22 which project downwardly outward into the space formed between the horizontal deflector 5 and the screen base 7, at the tops of'the posts 4.

There are preferably four of these feet 22 and each of them has at its extremity end pieces 23 adapted to occupy a portion of said annular recess an inch and a quarter more or less in length. Each end piece is rovided at the outside with a' longitudinal liorizontal rib 24 midway between the upper and lower edges of the end piece, so as to form therewith upper and lower seates to receive strips 25 of rubber or other cushioning material, which strips press at their opposite sides against the walls of the recess formed by the screen base 7 and he horiinto small globules and zontal deflector 5. The electric motor thus has a resilient or cushioned mounting which will absorb vibrations and prevent noise which might otherwise be caused by the running of the motor. Bolts 26 extend through the tubular posts 4 and parts at the ends thereof so as to clamp the whole firmly together as shown. The motor 21 is thus suspended with its shaft 27 in vertical position, the lower end of the shaft projecting below the top of the horizontal deflector 5. Said lower end of the shaft has fast to itself a hub 28 around which is a horizontally disposed fan for atomiz'ing the water and mixing the air therewith and beneath which hub is a depending pump tube 29. The end of the shaft 27 enters a socket 30 in the top of the hub, through the side of which a set screw 31 Works to clamp said hub 011 the shaft. Said hub provides for its lower part a chamber 32 open at the bottom of the hub, but closed from the socket 30 to prevent water from coming in contact with the shaft and rusting it. The lower end of the chamber 32 of the hub is radially enlarged as at 33 to form a recessed seat for'the flanged upper end 34 of the pump tube 29. Preferably in order to hold said flanged end of the pump tube in its said seat, the side walls of the seat are "undercut as at 35, so that an endless helical spring 36 when sprung into said recess 33, on the flanged end 34 of the pump tube, it will crowd beneath said undercut walls and hold the pump tube firmly in place. At the same time, the pump tube can be readily detached if necessary.

At the upper part of the chamber 32 of the hub 28 there are radial passages or borings 37 leading outward from said chamber through athickened annular portion 38 of the hub. That is to say, this portion 38 of the hub is of greater diameter than the portion 39 immediately below, so that the water discharged from said passages 37 is given the necessary velocigy to break it up istribute it uniformly over the whole diameter of the fan.

Near its bottom the hub28 has a radial flange 40 to which is'secured as by screws 41 a disk 42 forming the floor of the fan.

The outer marginal portion of this disk 42 is a circumferential series posed fan blades 43 extending perpendicularly upward from said disk 42, and prefereir upper ends by an ably connected at th annular top piece 44. .This annular top of radially dispiece 44 lies beneath the inner marginalportion of the horizontal deflector 5, and the extreme inner edge of said deflector is bent downward inside said top piece, as at 45. Radially outward from the blades of the fan, beyond the posts 4, the annular deflector 5, is bent downward as at 46, so as to cause the discharged air and water to be deflected downward against the side wall of the container 1. Said side wall at its lower portion 47 flares outwardly, but at a point above the curved deflector portion 46, the walls of the container bend sharply inward, as at 48.

The annular support 2 fits nicely within the lower portion of the walls of the container 1, so that when the interior part of the device is set into the container, it will be centered automatically and without any especial attention on the part of the caretaker. Holes 49 through said annular support 2 permit of a ready access of the water to both sides of said support, and preferably an inner conical portion 50 of the flange 3 of the annular support 2 extends downwardly into the water of the container to prevent undue agitation thereof, such as rhythmical gyrations induced by the rotation of the fan and pump tube.

In operation, the container'is filled with water to about the level indicated by the water line on Fig. 3, and the motor is started running. Water begins to flow up the pump tube 29 and into the chamber 32 of the hub 28, the pumping action being dependent on skin friction and centrifugal force in the form of pump tube shown in the drawings. If desired the pump tube may be provided with interior ribs either straight or spiral, for the purpose of increasing the amount of water or other liquid pumped. From the hub. chamber 32 the water escapes through the passages 37, the water escaping with considerable velocity as stated above and in a uniformly horizontal plane because of the radial extension of the portion 28 of the hub having the discharge holes 37 in itself, and its smooth regular periphery. The streams of water from the discharge passages 37 break up into small globules and then strike the blades 43 of the fan by which the water is completely atomized. In the meantime, air is being drawn into the central opening at the top of the fan, said air being taken from around the motor 21, after it has passed through the screen 11 which it reaches by entering from the room between the upright cylindrical casing 12 and the overhanging hood 19. This air goes between the fan blades with the water and becauseof the great number of blades the fan presents a. large surface for intimate contact of the air and liquid, which facilitates the atomization and distribution of the liquid relatively tothe air in the shortest possible time. The downwardly curving portion 46 of the deflector 5 deflects the air and liquid downward, as they come from the fan 28, and a frlnge or sheet of atomized liquid is presented at the outer edge of said deflector meanest the wall of the container 1 and is directed upward to the inwardly converging portion 48 of the container walls, which causes the air to give up all remaining unvaporized liquid, so that the air alone issues between the top edge of the container walls and the adjacent baflie 13. This bafiie directs the current radially outward and prevents any possibility of it entering the device again directly. No Water can escape from the container, and particles of dust carried in suspension in the air are covered with moisture and kept within the container. The inner horizontal portion of the deflector 5 prevents any water being thrown by the fanblade against the motor 21, and the cover 20 with the annular hood 19, prevents any foreign matter from falling or being thrust niischievously into the machine. The blades 43 of the fan 28 are preferably inserted at their upper and lower ends into radial slits formed in the bottom disk 42 and annular top piece 44, and soldered therein. In order to get a morerigid connection, each end of a blade has three longitudinal slits 51 thus forming two adjacent tongues 52, 53 one of which is bent to one side out of the plane of the blade and the other to the other side. When this is done the said tongues abut at their extremities against the inner surface of the adjacent slotted plate and serve as as stop, all as clearly shown in detail Figs. 5, 6, and 7.

As already indicated the arrangement of the motor shaft 27 in a vertical position, with the atomizing fan attached to the lower end thereof by .means of the hub 28, and the pump tube 29 further depending centrally from the fan is an important feature of my construction, since it enables the whole to be readily mounted in a stable position and cushioned so as toabsorb vibration and prevent noise. It should also be noted that the pump tube 29 can be quickly attached and detached for purposes of cleaning. The pump itself is also a plain tapering tube which can be readily cleaned. The manner of mounting the fan blades 43 is also a feature of the invention, since it insures great firmness and solidity of construction so that there is very little chance for vibration. The ends of the blades are soldered for their entire length to the bottom disk 42 and top piece 44, so that there can be no movement. The container and various guiding parts for the entering air, the mixed air and water in the conditioner and the escaping air, are so arranged and related as to prevent any conflict of the different currents, to insure against the escape or spattering of any water upon a table or other support where the conditioner stands and to discharge the air in a condition free from any unvaporized moisture. At the same tlme a neat and pleasing ap- It will be'noted that the motor and atom-- izer together with the support 2 and associated parts can be lifted out of the container 1 for cleaning or the like and can be replaced without any special care since the annular support 2 centersautomatically the container 1 as set forth. The annular support 2 forms a dead-water space between itself and the walls of the container, and Within the said annular support undue agitation, gyration or other rhythmical move ment of the water is retarded by the depending flange 50. In all of these ways and in others-not specifically mentioned, a conditioner of my improved construction is especially adapted to the work required of it.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is:

1. In a device of the character described, the combination of a horizontally disposed centrifugal fan, means for rotating said fan upon 'a substantially vertical axis, means for supplying air to the central intake of said fan, a reservoir beneath said fan, an inverted conical tube extending downward from the center of said fan into said reservoir, said tube being attached to and rotating with the fan, and means around said fan for separating the discharged air and water from each other. 4

2. In a device of the character described, the combination of a horizontally-disposed centrifugal fan having a circumferential series of marginal blades, means for rotating 'said fan upon a substantially vertical axis,

means for supplying air to the central intake of said fan, a reservoir beneath said fan, an inverted conical tube extending downward from the center of said fan into said reservoir, said tube being attached to and rotating with the fan and the hub of said fan having passages leading from said tube radially outward through its hub'toward said blades, and means around said fan for separating the discharged air and water from each other.

3. The combination of a centrifugal fan having a circumferential series of marginal blades and a hollow hub with radial lateral apertures therein directed toward said blades, means for rotating said fan, means for supplying water to the interior of said hub, and means for supplying air to the fan around said hub.

4. Thecombiuation of a horizontally disposed fan, means for rotating said fan upon a substantially vertical axis, tending upward from the central intake of the fan, a reservoir adapted to inclose said fan and contain water, and a pump tube placing the central intake at the underside of the fan in communication with said reservoir, said pump tube being attached to and rotating with the fan. v

5. The combination of a horizontally disposed fan, an air inlet extending upward from the central intake of said fan, a motor in said inlet for driving the fan, means for supporting said motor and fan with their axes substantially vertical, a container adapted to hold water beneath the fan and a pump tube placing the central intake at the underside of the fan in communication with said reservoir, said tube being attached to and rotating with the fan.

6. The combination of a horizontally disposed centrifugal fan, means for rotating said fan upon a substantially vertical axis, a reservoir beneath said fan, a pump tube placing the central intake of the fan in communication with the reservoir, said tube being attached to and rotating with the fan,

and means around the periphery of the fan for returning the water to the reservoir.

7. In a device of the character described, the combination of a horizontally disposed centrifugal fan, means for rotating said fan upon a substantially vertical axis, means for supplying air to the central intake of said fan, a reservoir beneath said fan, an inverted conical tube placing the center of said fan in communication with said reservoir, said tube being attached to and rotating with the fan from the center of said fan into said reservoir, a screen between the air inlet and the outlet of said tube from the reservoir, and means around said fan for separating the discharged air and water from each other.

8. The combination of a container, a cylindrical casing in said container having an inlet for air, a screen depending into the'top of said casing at a distance from the sides thereof, a motor supported in said inlet with its shaft substantially vertical, a horizontally disposed fan on said shaft at the lower end of said casing and screen, and means for supplying waterto thecentral intake of said fan from the container.

9. In a device of the characterdescribed, the combination of a container having walls flaring upwardly outward from its bottom, an annular support adapted to stand on said bottom of the container and having a base of substantially the same size as said bottom, whereby said support will be centered by the sides of the container, a fan mounted in said container and means for supplying air and-water to said fan at the same time.

10. The combination of a container adaptan air inlet ex-.

disposed deflector plate ed to hold water a centrifugal fan horizontally disposed in said container, means for rotating said fan upon a substantially vertical axis, a pump tube at the lower side of the fan placing the central inlet thereof in communication with the reservoir, said tube being attached to and rotating with the fan, and an annular flange in said container adapted to retard motion of the liquid imparted to it by said tube.

11. The combination of a container, an annular support in said container, a motor supported with its shaft in substantially vertical position, a centrifugal fan on said shaft in the container, means for supplying air to the central intake of said fan, a pump tube at the lower side of the fan placing the central intake thereof in communication with the reservoir, said tube being attached to and rotating with the fan, and a flange on the said annular support adapted to retard movement imparted by said pump tube to liquid in said container.

12. The combination of a container, a vertical annular support, posts extending upward from said support, a horizontally on said posts having an outer portion curving downward and an inwardly extending portion, a motor supported upon said plate at the top of said posts with its shaft insubstantially vertical position, a centrifugal fan upon said shaft beneath said plate, means for supplying air to the central intake of said fan from above, and means for supplying water to the central intake of said fan from said container.

13. The combination of a container, vertical annular supporting means, a horizontally disposed deflector plate, an. annular screen base above said plate having a reduced upper end, an annular casing upon said screen base, an annular screen upon said reduced upper end of the screen base, means for closing the upper end of said screen, a motor within said screen having its shaft in substantially vertical position, a centrifugal fan on said shaft below the screen, and means for supplying water to the central intake of said fan at its lower side from the said container.

14..The combination of a container, vertically disposed annular supporting means, a horizontally disposed plate on said supporting means, an annular screen base extending upward from said plate, a cylindrical screen on said base, a cylindrical casing extending upward from said base outside said screen, and at a distance therefrom, an annular hood projecting from the top of said screen over said casing, a cover for the top of'said screen, a motor inside said screen with its shaft in substantially vertical position, a centrifugal fan upon the lower end of said shaft in said container,

and means for supplying water from said lit tit

tilt

container to the central intake of said fan at its under side.

15. The combination of a container, a cylindrical casing projecting out of the top of said container in vertical position and being of less diameter than said top, a cylindrical screen within said casing at a distance therefrom, means within the container for supporting said casing and screen, an annular partition projecting from said casing between the top thereof and the top of the container, an annular hood projecting from the top of the screen outwardly over the casing, a motor inside said screen with its shaft in substantially vertical position, a centrifugal fan in the container upon the lower end of said shaft, and means for supplying water from said container to the central intake of said fan at its lower side.

16. The combination of a container having side walls which flare upwardly outward at their lower part and then upwardly inward for the upper part, a deflector plate horizontally disposed in said container and having its outer portion depending to a point below the said inwardly inclined upper portion of the walls of the container, means for supporting said deflector plate, a motor above said deflector plate with its shaft in substantially vertical position, a centrifugal fan upon the lower end of said shaft in the plane of said deflector plate, and means for supplyin water from said container to the central intake of said fan at its lower side.

17 The combination of a container, a deflector plate horizontally disposedin said container having an inner substantially horizontal portion and an outer depending portion, means for supporting said deflector plate, a motor mounted above said deflector plate with its axis substantially vertical, a centrifugal fan on the lower end of said shaft having its blades underlying saidflat inner edge of the deflector plate, and means for supplying water from the container to th; central intake of said fan at its lower s1 e.

18. The combination of a container, an annular deflector plate "horizontally disposed in said container, means for support ing said plate, a screen base seated on said plate and forming therewith an annular recess, a motor arranged with its shaft in substantially vertical position, feet on said motor projecting into said recess, cushioning means in said recess for said feet, a centrifugal fan in the container upon the lower end of said motor shaft, and means for supplying water from said container to the central intake of said fan at its under side.

19. The combination of a container, an annular plate horizontally disposed said container, means for supporting said plate, a screen base seated on said plate and formplying liquid from the container to said 20. The combination of a container, a vertically disposed annular support in said container, tubular posts extending upward from said support, a motor with its shaft substantially vertical, feet projecting downwardly outward from the lower end of the motor casing, a horizontally disposed plate upon said posts, an annular screen base upon said plate adapted to hold the said feet of the motor between itself and said plate,bolts extending one through each tubular post and plate and screen base and separably holding the same together, a centrifugal fan upon the lower end of the motor shaft, and means for supplying liquidfrom the con tainer to said fan.

21. The combination of a container, a

motor supported with its shaft substantially vertical, a hub upon the lower end of said shaft having in its upper end a socket for the shaft and in its lower end a liquid chain her with radial outlets, a centrifugal fan mounted on said hub around said outlets, and means for supplying liquid from the container to said chamber of the hub.

22. The combination of a container, a motor supported in said container with its shaft substantially vertical, a hub on the lower end of said shaft having an interior chamber with radial outlets, a centrifugal fan surrounding said hub, a pump tube depending from the end of said hub into the container, and means for detachably connecting said pump tube to said hub.

23. The combination of a container, a

motor supported in said container with its shaft substantially vertical, a hub on the lower end of said shaft having a hollowed lower end with radial outlets, a centrifugal fan mounted on said, hub, said hub having an annular recess in its lower extremity, a pump tube having a flanged end entering said recess, and means for releasably holding'said flange in said recess.

24. The combination of a container, a motor with its shaft substantially vertical, a hollow hub with lateral outlets on the lower end of said shaft, said hub having an annular recess in its lower end with undercut walls, a pump tube having an end flange lying in said recess, and a resilient ring adapted to be inserted in said recess upon said flange.

. 25. lhe combination of a container, at and an endless helical spring adapted to be motor with its shaft substantially vertical, a forced into said recess upon said flanged hollow hub with lateral outlets on the lower end of the pump tube.

end of said shaft, said hub having an annu- MALCOLM DICKERSON. 5 lar recess in its lower end with undercut Witnesses:

circumferential walls, a pump tube having CORNELIUS ZABISKIE,

a flanged end adapted to enter said recess, FRANCES E. BLODGE'IT. 

